Step-holder for cars.



No. 832,959. I PATENTED 0019, 1906.

J. EDWARDS.

STEP HOLDER FOR CARS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25. 1906.

w/r/v sg U INVENTOR ,j' h I WWI/60 ATTOHNE Ys JOSEPH EDWARDS, OF NEW YORK N. Y.

STEP-HOLDER FOR CARS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 9, 1906.

Application filed July 25,1906. Serial No. 327,653.

T at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH EDWARDS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Step-Holder for Cars, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to running-b0ards or steps of street-cars, such as used usually at the sides of so-called summer cars. Where such cars are operated on double tracks, it is usual for the inner board or step, which is disposed over the devil-strip, to be turned up out of the way, this step being usually mounted upon pivots or hinge connections for this purpose.

The general object of the invention is to provide simple means for supporting the run hing-board or step and forholding the same in a folded position where it will be out of the way.

More specifically, the object of the invention is to provide a construction which will enable the holder to be put quickly into position.

The invention consists in the construction and. combination. of parts to be more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in the cla ms.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters ofreference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of the side of a car, showing how my device is applied in practice. on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. In this view the step is represented in its horizontal or operative position in full lines and it is shown in dotted lines in its folded or inoperative position. Fig. 3 is a perspective of the step-holder, representing the same as removed from the car, the lower portion of the View being represented as broken away; and Fig. 4 is a front view or elevation of the upper portionof the bracket.

Referring more particularly to the parts, 1 represents the side of the car, which is provided at suitable points with hangers, such as the hanger 2. This hanger 2 consists simply of an iron member which projects downwardly at the side of the car and is provided at its lower extremity with a rear* weirdly-projecting foot 3, presenting an inclined face, as shown. This foot is further 7 Fig. 2 is a cross-section provided with forwardly-projecting ears 4, to which an arm 5 is attached by a hinge connection 6. This arm is provided with a rear wardly-projecting toe 7, which is adapted to come against the foot 3 when the arm is forced downwardly, so that the arm will besupported in a substantially horizontal position. To the upper side of these arms 5 the step or running-board S is attached, and to the outer face of the hangers 2 a riser or side board 9 is attached, as shown. On the rear side of the hangers 2 I attach a bracket 10, consisting of a plate having a sleeve 11 formed on a vertical axis at the edgethereof, said sleeve being disposed adjacent to the side face of the hanger, as shown.

The upper extremity of the sleeve 11 lies in an inclined plane, so that the sleeve presents inclined side edges or lips 12. These edges lie in a plane which is substantially at right angles to the plane of the riser.

On the side of the sleeve 11 which lies opposite to the plate or body of the bracket the upper edge of the sleeve is formed with a recess or notch. '13. The sleeve 11 receives the shank 14 of a keeper 15, which keeper is formed of a stout wire or rod bent so as to present a horizontally-extending arm 16, having a downwardly-projecting finger 17 at the extremity thereof. The shank 14 is not secured in any way to the sleeve, but simply is received loosely therein,

The manner in which the keeper operates to hold the step in an upright position is clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. The step is folded upwardly, as shown, and the keeper is then raised and rotated forwardly. It is then allowed to descend, so that the finger 17 engages the outer or under side of the step. In this way the step is held in an upright position. When it is desired to replace the step in its normal horizontal position, the keeper is raised so as to escape the finger on the step, and the step is then allowed to swing downwardly. As soon as the keeper 15 is released it will descend by gravity, so that the under side of the arm 16 rests upon the inclined forward lip 12. The keeper cannot stay in equilibrium in this position, and the effect of the inclined lip is to rotate the arm 16 rearwardly, so that it moves into substantially the plane of the plate of the bracket. In this way the arm moves back automatically and drops into the notch 13, so as to assume the position shown in Fig. 3. In order to enable the finger 17 to clear the riser 9 as the keeper swings rearwardly, I provide the upper edge of the riser with a slot 18, through which the finger passes, as will be readily understood.

Attention is called to the fact that when the step is being secured in its folded position it is not necessary that the keeper be first raised. This follows from the fact that the keeper is not secured in any way to the sleeve, being simply loosely received therein. By reason of this fact the keeper may be raised vertically in the, sleeve without producing a change in the direction of the arm 16. When it has been raised to a sufficient height, it will then be swung forward in the manner suggested and the fin er 17 will engage with the step. This mode of operation is considered superior to that of similar devices in which the keeper must be raised and held up while the ste is brought into its upright position. Evic ently when the keeper is not in use it holds itself out of the way, so that it cannot catch into the clothing of persons getting on or off the car.

Having thus described invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A step-holder, adapted to be attached to a car, consisting of a'bracket comprising a guide-sleeve, and a keeper having a shank loosely mounted in said sleeve, and having an arm with means for enga ing a car-step, said sleeve having an inclined lip on the forward side thereof, affording means for moving the said arm into an inoperative position.

2. A step-holder, adapted to be attached to a car, consisting of a bracket comprising a guidesleeve, with an inclined lip at the upper extremity thereof, and a keeper having a shank loosely mounted in said sleeve, and having an arm with a finger adapted-to engage the car-step, said inclined lip bein affording means for swinging said arm in- I wardly when said keeper is released, said notch affording means for engaging said arm to hold said arm in operative position.

4. A step-holder, adapted to be attached to a car, comprising a sleeve with an inclined lip at the upper edge thereof, a keeper having a shank rotatably mounted in said sleeve and having an arm lying adjacent to said lip, when said keeper is in an operative position, said lip affording means for swinging said arm rearwardly when released, a riser disposed adjacent to said sleeve, and having a slot in the upper edge thereof, said arm having a downwardly-projecting finger adapted to engage a car-step and adapted to swing rearward through said slot.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH EDWARDS.

Witnesses: 1

WILLIAM H. BIRD, HENRY M. CORNELL. 

